“Thank you and follow us on social media for more love and feel-good mumbo jumbo!”

I have so many problems with this so-called trend (beyond the fact they vilify the good stuff like frying!)

For one, there’s always been “feel good” companies out there. Heck, remember when Newman’s Own first started?

But they were far and few between – until the wave of customers demanded to have that “feel good” feeling when they bought whatever product it is. And now almost every single product is mimicking that marketing model.

Wait a minute – does it make a difference in the long run?

Here’s my argument.

Yes, there is something to be said about organic stuff or gluten-free stuff or products made without “toxic” chemicals (which have long been used to preserve shelf-life, enhance flavor, even make products addictive i.e., MSG, etc.)

But I’m concerned about this trend of “healthy, happy” shit. Because most packaged goods – regardless of how organic or gluten-free they are – are eventually BAD FOR YOU.

They wrap the high-carb corn chips with these health-conscious labels, and all of a sudden you can shovel a whole bag in your mouth? Sure, if you want to head to the diabetes clinic in five years.

The marketing is so personal and so emotional – that I believe it causes people to misunderstand the whole chemical process in the human body.

I myself have been a victim…

Gluten Free, Organic, Sustainable. Doesn’t mean it’s good to eat.

Gluten free, organic tortilla chips raise your blood sugar just the same as a bag of Doritos.

Sure, the so-called chemicals and artificial colors aren’t there – but what difference does it make when you have much bigger problems to worry about?

That is how I’ve realized I’ve been victimized. My girlfriend is now Gluten-Free… and she’s been buying all sorts of (so-called) healthy shit. That has the mighty “gluten free!” label on it.

Popcorn. Chips. Crackers. I could go on.

You get swept up. Especially for a low-carber like myself… the gluten-free stuff throws you for a loop. Because of the lack of gluten, you don’t get the typical “inflammation” (i.e., bloating) that you’d normally get from eating say (a sandwich, a pizza, etc.). So you think it’s okay. UNTIL YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR OR STEP ON THE SCALE.

There will come a time where EVERY LAST THING WILL BE ABOUT “LOVE AND HAPPINESS!” What will happen then?

Exactly what has happened in every other point in human history.

Compartmentalization and judging.

When everything is about love and happiness – you’ll have “best loving chips” and “worst loving chips” at some point. Even if you think you’re all “lovey-dovey” you might get on some “worst list” somehow. That is how it works. Doesn’t matter how cutesy-happy your marketing may be. You’ll be judged and ranked one way or another.

New world hype – same old fuckin’ problems

The bottom line is – it does NOT matter how “feel good” the company is.

Because they DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU. They care that you buy their products and accept their hype. That is all. Don’t you understand that?

It’s clinically apparent that whatever “artificial” crap they pump into products these days matters a whole lot less than how it affects your body’s basic chemistry (i.e., sugar, carbs, protein and fat.)

50 years of Doritos (with fake flavors) versus 50 years of “organic nacho chips” will probably make NO PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE!

(Other than a smaller pocket book).

So eat natural, avoid almost ALL packaged goods – and you will be okay.

Eventually it WILL come full circle. That is how human beings work, and that is why you’ll see a new “trend” soon enough.

As consumers became more marketing-savvy (aka discovered the Internet), the traditional marketing tactic of trying to *convince* someone to buy your product hasn’t been as effective. People will Google your product, leave reviews, and call businesses out on their bullshit.

Instead, marketers started focus more on the ‘quality of life’ aspect. We all know you don’t NEED ice cream. A sexy spokesmodel won’t convince that of us now – maybe it did back in the last century. Instead, marketers will use the nostaligia of childhood memories to appeal the ice cream to you. “Remember how much you enjoyed it? How DARE you deny yourself and your kids of this feel-good treat?”!

Marketing healthy food to moms (and dads) appeals to the pressure to be a good parent. “How DARE you give your child a pop-tart for breakfast? Don’t you care about them?”

If junk/fast/packaged foods are a source of comfort food to us because of associated memories, i’d be intereseted to see how today’s marketing holds up for kids today 🙂